1 Message from the President

Detlev Albrings voluntarily stepped down as Chairman for the Finance Committee at this Congress and I want to thank him for his good co-operation and hard work for the powerlifting sport in the EPF Executive for altogether 8 years. Thank you!

George Leggett from GB was honoured for his about 27 years service to the powerlifting sport at the Banquet in connection with the Senior Europeans in Poland. He has been the official GB coach at international championships all this years and he is still an active powerlifter at international level. George celebrated his 70 years birthday in the beginning of May and declared that the Senior Europeans was his last official commission for GB as coach. A real Gentleman and a hard working official always doing and acting for the best of the powerlifting sport has stepped down. Thank you George for all you have done to promote the powerlifting sport! Midge Leggett - the wife of George - has accompanied him on most of the international championships. Mrs Leggett has - as long as I can remember - been sitting at the first row among the audience watching every attempt by every competitor and applauding the performances. She is a warm supporter of the sport of powerlifting and at the Banquet at the Senior Europeans she was honoured to be "The European Powerlifting Spectator No. 1" and awarded by an EPF gold medal with inscriptions.

At the Congress not one Federation from Western Europe gave bid to organise European championships in year 2001 and 2002. Only East-European Federations were willing to take on the hard work such organisation involve. Quite often lifters and officials complain about prices, accommodation standard etc. at various championships. But I will say that if nations that pretend they can organise better championships at lower costs etc do not bother to take on such responsibility they have no credible right to complain. However, EPF will work out formularies and contracts that states the obligations for both the organisers and the participants. Both parties must fulfil their obligations in right time to have high standards at our championships. EPF will also guide and help less experienced organisers by doing inspections of venue etc prior to a championships.

Then a message to lifters and officials. Very often I recognise a lot of noise from lifters (and sometimes from officials) at late hours in the night at the hotels where participants have their accommodation. Lifters having finished their competition celebrates with a lot of noise without taking any notice of lifters and officials that still have a duty to do. This is a very selfish and thoughtless way of behaving and I will strongly request National Federations to instruct their lifters and officials to show respect for their lifting colleagues in the heavier weight classes and for the coaches, referees etc that have a duty to do to the next day. Please give this a serious consideration

2 Minutes of the 1999 EPF Congress

The Minutes of the last Congress were accepted unanimously.

All reports were accepted unanimuosly.

Election for 4 years: All officers were elected unanimously. President Arnulf Wahlström , Vice President Klaus Broström, General Secretary Heiner Köberich, Treasurer Heiner Köberich, Finance Committee Chairman Pavol Müller, Law & Legislation Committee Chairman Klaus Broström, Technical committee Chairman Myriam Busselot, Disciplinary Committee Chairman Pavol Müller.

Proposals:

Proposal No. 1. (from President Wahlström)
Change the Constitution 909.19 (new 909.7 after revision) to:
(a) The following penalties shall be imposed on a federation that has lifters or officials suspended for drug offences at or in connection with any European Championships (open, restricted or single lift) or Cups.
1. For the first offence in any twelve month period:
(a) A fine of DM 500 shall be imposed.
2. For the second offence in any twelve month period
(a) If the offence relates to banned substances listed under 5.02 (e) (1)*of the bylaws the fine shall be DM 1000
(b) If the offence relates to banned substances listed under 5:02 (e) (2)* of the bylaws the fine shall be DM 500
(c) Where the offence relates to banned substances under both 5.02 (e) (1) and 5.02 (e) (2) the fine shall be DM 2000
3. For the third and further offence in any twelve month period:
(a) All the penalties imposed by 909.7 (a) 2 shall apply.
(b) The above fine shall be reduced by 50% of the amounts stated (but subject to a minimum amount of DM 500) if the lifter's federation has an OCT testing program approved by the IPF Executive.
(c) The reduced fines shall also apply if the lifter has completed a negative drug test no earlier than two months prior to the date of the offence. The lifter's federation shall verify the test by producing a copy of the laboratory analysis to the general secretary within 21 days of the demand for production being made. (e) The executive may reduce or remit any fines or sanctions imposed.
17 YES

Proposal no. 2. (from President Wahlström) was withdrawn

Proposal no. 3. (from Gen. Secr. Köberich)
The Anti-Doping Fee shall be raised to DM50 for each lifter entered at the technial meeting.
YES 16 Against 1 starting after the Men's Open.

Proposal no. 4. (from Gen. Secr. Köberich) At European Masters Championships also the Women shall compete in two age categories and in each age category they shall have the right to compete in the official 10 weight classes.
YES 17

Proposal no. 5. (from Disciplinary Com. Chairm. Müller.)
Bench Press Championships shall be organised without a special division of disabled lifters. Disabled lifters can compete within the abled classes, if they fullfil the IPF rules for abled lifters. I.e. They can walk on their own feet without any help to the bench.
YES 13 NO 3 Remainder Abstentions

Proposal no. 6. (from Disciplinary Com chairm. Müller). Referees: The ten referees from different nations nominated by the Technical Committee that are able to referee throughout the whole championships shall receive an accommodation discount (or free). These costs are to be paid by the promoter/organiser. Reason: According to my personal experiences we have a lot of problems with referees at Juniors, Masters and Women championships. The number of lifters is increasing, but the number of referees willing to referee is going down. Maybe this should help to solve the problem and improve the standard of refereeing in these categories.
YES 5 NO 11 Remainder Abstentions

New member Applicants: None

Action on Delinquent Nations: None

Hall of Fame. Kalevi Sorsa and Anna Liisa Prinkkala Finland were elected.

Bids and confirmation on Future Championships - see new calendar of events.

Any Other Business: The Congress voted that from Luxembourg onwards, the Masters European Powerlifting Championships will have two age categories and all 10 weight classes for Women. Federations should consider this change when making nominations for Luxembourg.

Heiner Köberich

3 1999 Men's European Powerlifting Championships

4 Any Other Business

• The following Members still must pay the EPF Fee for 1999 - Spain, Georgia, Belorus. The fee including the fine for overdue payment is now 475DM.
• Often there is a discussion about the prices for the Meet Hotels in Eastern Europe. Following the protest of the German federation, hotel pricing has been discussed. It has often been found that that indeed the prices are higher than the standard hotel rates. However, we must be in aware that there are major economic difference between Western and Eastern Europe. The Eastern Europeans have much lower incomes, and Meet sponsors are rather rare. If these countries make a loss of 5000DM like Hungary did at last year's World Juniors, then this typically represents several years income for the organisers. If the Eastern Europeans are prevented from using the Hotel Prices to help pay for the organisation of the championships, we will soon not have organisers for all our contests. However, remember that our rules do not force any teams to stay in the official Meet Hotel. Each nation can makes its own accomodation arrangements if they feel the official Hotel is too expensive - Finland and Germany have been doing this for some time.